If we use that as a standard, then Kelly Olynyk may be the most undervalued right now. His most dominant days came as a Knick, where he averaged better than 28 points on three separate occasions. People tend to forget that, as a member of the Detroit Bad Boys, Aguirre helped win the Pistons back-to-back titles in '89 and '90. He was, at his best, a top three post defender of all-time. One Three Pointer Shaquille O'Neal is a household name in the basketball domain. He is the ultimate underrated player. Allen has one of the highest motors in the league, actively surveying the floor for the best positioning. Here is our list of 12 of the most underrated players in the NBA today. Did you know that the NBA logo is actually a silhouette of West himself? Look at the leaderboards for any of the best advanced stats and youll see a lot of the same names: Stephen Curry, Nikola Jokic, Jimmy Butler, Lebron Jamesand Isaiah Hartenstein. He led the league in Offensive Rating (points produced per 100 possessions) in the 2006-2007 campaign. In 14 seasons, Jeff Hornacek shot 50 percent in the field, 40 from beyond the arc and 88 at the free throw line. He also gave us the step-back jump shot. He is still fourth among retired players with his 27 points per game career scoring average. "The Human Highlight Film" was a sight to see and perhaps the best in-game dunker the world has ever seen. During the game, he totalled 22 points, 14 rebounds, 13 assists and 12 blocks. His scoring average of 8.4 points per game this season is about half of his career average, and he has not lived up to the expectations he had when he signed for so much money. It's a travesty that the 6'9" 34-year-old wasn't mentioned as one of the league's best scorers during his prime. He is the Mavs' second-best player in franchise history behind the great Dirk Nowitzki, and just about no one outside of Texas knows that. In his career, he averaged 14.1 points, five assists and nearly four boards per game. He played behind Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Magic Johnson and James Worthy and was often overlooked and forgotten by opponents. Shane Battier has, as long as he's been in the league, been a corrupt defensive force. Offensively, the 6'4" Moncrief was as versatile as anybody on the court and had one of the game's best jumpers. 3. All these players were skilled on their court but also notorious outside that court. People seem to not know who Love is, so you might as well call me teacher, as I just gave you this important lesson. Who was the top scorer in the 1980s? He still is the NBA's all-time leader in field goal percentage at an astounding 59.9 percent. He was always underrated, especially playing under the stars with guys like Chauncey Billups, Rip Hamilton, Tayshaun Prince and Rasheed Wallace. Jerry West is one of basketball's most polarizing figures in its long history. He also swiped an amazing 1.9 steals per game. While Larry Bird and Kevin McHale were dominant in their respective own ways during the 1980s, Dennis Johnson was the glue that kept everything stable in Boston. Throughout his 18-year career, he scored a total of 19,460 points, just short of the honorable 20,000-point mark. By some measures, Chris Jent can be considered one of the most successful players to ever set foot in the NBA. Despite his lack of production, Haddadi will stay in the league for several years based on his size. Every player has some value no matter how bad they are or how little they contribute on the court. If not for his team-high 28 points and 11 rebounds in a tense Game 7 of the Eastern Division finals against the Syracuse Nationals, the Celtics would have one fewer championship banner in the rafters. In each of six consecutive seasons (1984-90), he shot 51 percent or better from the field, almost unheard of for a backcourt player. Jim Loscutoff. None of them played in more than two All-Star Games, and most flew well under the radar. Regardless of his numbers, I will leave it up to the readers to decide whether he belongs on this list or not. Nearly doubling his scoring average from last year, Bane has been a key scoring threat for the Grizzlies. 25. There have been few players as fundamentally sound as Malcolm Brogdon since entering the league in 2016. Now playing for the Charlotte Bobcats, no one is sure what he is known as. These cities have produced approximately one-third of all players in NBA history! Robert Horry: Big Shot Bob. Doug Christie was the heart and soul of the Sacramento Kings' defense. The Cleveland Cavaliers were one of the most impressive young squads last NBA season. Wilt Chamberlain holds numerous NBA records that may never be broken Wilt Chamberlain is best known for setting some of the most unbelievable records in his NBA career. He made an All-NBA team and was selected to two All-Star Game appearances, and before about a month ago, I had no idea who he was. When the 3-pointer took off in the mid-2000s, Martin was at the front of the line. He was a member of four All-Defensive teams and made it his forte in the league. Home Forums > Basketball > National Basketball Association > NBA General Discussion > NBA General > Most unknown player in the NBA Discussion in ' NBA General ' started by magicfrankie , Jun 27, 2003 . Despite being a late-round draft pick in 2008, Nikola Pekovic did not make it to the NBA until last season. The Lakers played in three consecutive Game 7s. He averaged 17-plus points per game in seven consecutive seasons and put up a .440/.358/.845 percentage line on more than 15,000 shot attempts. The 6'5" Sloan was a two-time All-Star and a six-time All-Defensive guard who was tenacious in his ways on both sides of the court. The other five? Drew ranks 54th in player efficiency rating, the highest of any non-Hall of Famer in his era. The Ringer Podcast Network The Most Interesting Players Going Into the 2022-23 NBA Season Plus, the only potential flaw for Victor Wembanyama, Nikola Jovic's near-perfect pairing with the. DeMarre Carroll signed a free-agent contract with the Denver Nuggets despite playing only 12 games last season. An underrated way that Kennard is used in the Clippers offense is through the pick-and-roll with Paul George. When the name Curry is mentioned its hard not to immediately think of all-time three point record champion Stephen Curry. During his time in Dallas, a tenure that lasted eight seasons, Mark Aguirre averaged better than 24 points, six rebounds and four assists. Always has been and always will be. When Bobby Portis first entered the league as a Chicago Bull, he was praised for his high-motor and effort on both sides of the floor. However, during his prime, Big Ben was a force in the paint that even Michael Jordan would have a tough time scoring on him and his legendary afro. Brockman, who is still developing as an NBA player, scores only 2.3 points and grabs just 3.4 rebounds per game. Due only to injuries, Oden has not yet had the opportunity to show why he was the first overall draft choice ahead of Kevin Durant in the 2007 draft. Lewis is second only to Kobe Bryant in terms of total salary that he will earn this season, with a paycheck of over $22 million. (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images), (Photo by Chris Marion/NBAE via Getty Images). He was the first player in NBA history to score more than 2,500 points in eight straight campaigns. Standing at 6'7" and weighing in at 180 pounds, George Gervin was a stick-thin, deadly shooter from all angles. He is only adding 3.4 points per game this year as well. Teams: New York Knicks (1998-2001, 2012-13), Denver Nuggets (2002-08), Los Angeles Clippers (2008-10), Portland Trail Blazers (2010-12), Houston Rockets (2012). Teams: Philadelphia 76ers (1988-93), Charlotte Hornets(1993-95, 2000-01), Seattle SuperSonics (1995-99), Chicago Bulls (1999-2000). He posted better numbers in 18 games in the Developmental League, but even there he did not do well. Silly question. 10. Sam Jones, simply put, is the ultimate champion. Matt Carroll has been in the NBA for eight years and spent several of those with the Charlotte Bobcats. He excelled at team defense, and few played the passing lanes better. How Chauncey Billups did not make an All-Star Game until 2006, when he was 29, absolutely boggles my mind. He was recently recalled from the Bakersfield Jam, but is not expected to help the Raptors out much. His No. Updated: June 1, 2016 10:41 am Lee was a solid rebounder, particularly at the defensive end, and he packed solid mid-range game as well. So maybe worthless is a bit harsh. With the NBA season approaching fast, there are a few players who havent gotten the credit they deserve. It is not a good sign when a center has an average of only 2.1 rebounds per game. Drew scored his biggest victory after retirement, it turned out, when he beat his toughest foe. Roger Mason Jr. did have some good seasons with the San Antonio Spurs, but he has done very little since that time. Unlike those two, Dantley was vastly underrated. A combative rebounder who packed a mid-range game, he was agile enough to finish a fast break on occasion. Sundiata Gaines is best known for hitting a game-winning three-point shot to beat LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers a couple of seasons ago. In fact, Wallace's 2007-08 season, a campaign where he averaged 19.4 points, six rebounds and 3.5 assists was not even recognized as an All-Star bid-worthy year. A great pull-up shooter combined with excellent finishing ability, Burks has the ability to score from anywhere on the floor. ), Heck, in some cases, a guy has been underrated by so many for so long, hes become a bit overrated. Terrence Ross has always been a case of unrealised potential, but for one nightly only, he realised the f*ck out of it with a 51-point explosion which tied Vince Carter's franchise record. This year, he has appeared in seven games for the Clippers and has a total of six points, 13 rebounds and nine personal fouls on the season. Additionally, Johnson was as clutch as anyone, coming up big in decisive moment after decisive moment. The Croatian was no sensation, but he was a valuable movable piece with three championship teams. Teams: Indiana Pacers (1991-2000, 2005), Portland Trail Blazers (2000-2004), Golden State Warriors (2004-05), Detroit Pistons (2005-07). He was selected to six All-Star Games and five All-NBA teams. Perhaps it was the era he played in, or maybe it was that he won "only" one title. It wasnt long before Maxwell became the odd man odd, but not before he supposedly told his teammates, "Hop on my back, boys, Ill carry you home," before Game 7 of the 1984 NBA Finals. and the C's winning the 1979 title. Despite a career scoring average in double figures, Charlie Villanueva has been a disappointing player for the Detroit Pistons the last few seasons. The New Jersey Nets are not a good team, and Johan Petro is not helping that much. While the most populous cities in the nation obviously have the best odds of landing here, that's not always the case. Gaines, who spent some time in the Developmental League before signing 10-day contracts in Utah, is having his best season this year, but his career has been inconsistent. League championships: 4 (2003, 2005, 2007, 2014). Phil Jackson was reminded of the latter in the 1995 playoffs, not long after Grant signed with the Magic as a free agent. With the threat of COVID-19 cancelling the 2019-20 season, it's a chance to reflect on . 1. He was also a five-time All-Star. Tinsley jumped at the chance to play in Utah, where he can mentor the younger players, but with only 4.8 minutes per game, it is unlikely that he is going to do much more. Which was sort of like being second to Arnold Schwarzenegger in the Mr. Universe contest. 6 of 30. Mase played hard and played tough and played at both ends. Mason signed as a free agent with the Washington Wizards before the season began. Hopefully we can appreciate the NBA's original "Big Z" for what he wasone of the NBA's first dominant big men. Time after time, he is asked to guard the likes of LeBron James, Kevin Durant and Kobe Bryant, and time after time, he lives up to the task. Among guards, his true shooting percentage (.582) ranks 16th overall. McHale and Bird were the two main catalysts of the 1980s Celtics' teams that won three championships. Scalabrine has played for three different teams in his more than 10-year career. No matter. He once hit 23 of 23 free throws in a single game, an NBA record. It is not good for a 6'11" forward to have career averages of only five points and 4.2 rebounds per game. Malone was a solid power forward throughout the 1980s and beyond, totalling 29,580 points and 17,834 rebounds. The only non-Hall-of-Famer? In the process, the Moms Mabley look-alike elevated the combo guard position to another level. The only other player to snag that many trophies is Ben Wallace. Hakeem Olajuwon ; image credit en.wikipedia.org. He was a prime example of a team player throughout his career, and he had the prototypical game of a point guardhe could shoot, pass, steal and play defense. Hes a clever passer who conducts offense from the elbows, a deft finisher who ranks in the 91st percentile as a pick-and-roll finisher, and a heady rim protector who patrols the backline for one of the NBAs best defenses. Dikembe Mutombo is widely considered one of the best centers in NBA history. For example, Phoenix is the . Named to the NBA's 50th Anniversary Team, Greer was widely considered the third best guard during the 1960s decade, trailing only Jerry West and Oscar Robertson. K-Mart drained at least 36 percent of his longballs in nine seasons and surpassed the big four-oh on three occasions. He took part in only 29 playoff games and never advanced beyond the conference semis. In the shadows of the two-time league MVP is his younger brother, Seth Curry. And it wasnt until he was 33 that he played in the conference finals for the first and last time. The 6-foot-3 floor general led the . Sidney was a great ballplayer, and it's about time he is recognized for his efforts. The "White Chocolate" Food Nickname Group. "Logo", as he was sometimes called for that reason, was an All-Star in all 14 seasons he played with the Lakers. Unfortunately, Natt was a so-called 'tweener not quite athletic enough at small forward, not big enough to be the prototypical power forward. They needed their best player, and Johnson delivered. Basically, no defender could contain the 6'7" King during his heyday. Teams: Cleveland Cavaliers (1991-97), Milwaukee Bucks (1997-98), Minnesota Timberwolves (1999-2002). Francisco Elson recently signed with the Philadelphia 76ers and has played in two games with his new team. He is recognized as one of the NBA's Greatest 50 Players Ever, but do fans treat him as such nowadays? Dawkins was one of those bigs who could have used college ball to develop his raw but considerable game. Teams: Milwaukee Bucks (2000-11), Phoenix Suns (2011-12). Maxwell coulda, woulda, shoulda been an all-time Celtics great. English was the unquestioned leader of the crew, and he rattled off eight consecutive All-Star appearances starting in 1982 with the team. He won five titles in 15 seasons and was a true winner. Haddadi is having his best season this year by averaging 2.6 points and three rebounds per game. Players make their names in the postseason, though, and Drew spent too many them on his couch. While future Hall of Famer Clyde "The Glide" Drexler dominated highlight reels, Porter served as the heartbeat of a team that averaged 57.5 wins over a four-year period and included an NBA Finals appearance. In Buffalo, he teamed up with Bob McAdoo to form a formidable one-two punch. These 32 cities are spread out throughout the country, and Ohio is the state most represented with four cities. His best season occurred during the 1988-89 campaign, when he averaged 19.8 points, 9.3 rebounds and 7.9 assists. Mark Eaton was the ultimate "guy-you-wouldn't-expect-to-be-a-hero-but-somehow-ends-up-one". They got off to a 24-4 start before Wilt Chamberlains tag-team partner blew out a knee. Sam I Am was so consistent for so long and with so many teams that he was taken for granted. Serving a perimeter role on offense Allen can be found roaming the perimeter most possessions. Brunson plays an extremely high-iq brand of basketball and relishes the role of floor general. Height is so incredibly important in basketball. His three All-Star nods in San Antonio are only surpassed by George Gervin, Tim Duncan and David Robinson. Unlike many other players on this list, Bane is an excellent scorer and shooter off-the-dribble. Prior to playing in the NBA, Silas emerged as a budding star at Creighton. Hey, look a 40-minutes-per-game player! At 6-foot-10, Grant was a solid rebounder-defender who could knock down the mid-range shot. Lever should be considered a top five Nugget, but just about no one outside of the Rockies gives the guy any respect. While his counting stats are fairly modest, they belie his true impact. His three seasons in New York were the best of his career. Tyler Hansbrough Jason Smith of the Orlando Magic fouls Tyler Hansbrough of the Charlotte Hornets. Similarly to prime Le'veon Bell, he has a sense of patience on his drives that frankly cant be taught. Since leaving the Los Angeles Lakers, Vladimir Radmanovic has fallen off of the NBA radar. Gerald Wallace is one of the few players in the NBA today who get it done on both sides of the floor, yet he is the one that gets the least attention out of the bunch. Teams: Phoenix Suns (1988-89), Cleveland Cavaliers (1989-92), Orlando Magic (1992-93), Chicago Bulls (1993-98), San Antonio Spurs (1999-2003), Portland Trail Blazers (2001-02). Teams: New Jersey Nets (1989-90), Denver Nuggets (1990-91), New York Knicks (1991-96), Charlotte Hornets (1996-2000), Miami Heat (2000-01), Milwaukee Bucks (2001-03). Matthews is a constant threat to knock down the deep ball. Between last season and this year, he has appeared in 13 NBA games and has scored a grand total of six points. Teams: Cincinnati Royals (1964-68), Detroit Pistons (1968-69), Los Angeles Lakers (1969-1975). Teams: Chicago Bulls (1987-94), Orlando Magic (1994-99, 2001-02), Seattle SuperSonics (1999-2000), Los Angeles Lakers (2003-04), League championships: 4 (1991, 1992, 1993, 2001). Ginobili might have been a bad actor, but the longtime Spur also was an all-time winner. The Knicks had a hot start last season but have cooled off significantly since then. All in all, he helped revolutionize the small forward game and should be better known amongst NBA cliques. No, make that a bagel bite. Portis has turned into an integral part of the Bucks championship rotation. The most charitable player in the NBA is LeBron James. After all, he won a record-tying four Defensive Player of the Year awards! Hill once averaged 26 points, seven rebounds and five assists over a full season when he played for the Pistons. Nope; that feat belonged to a fellow by the name of Alex English. Their names were Manute Bol and Muggsy Bogues. Teams: Atlanta Hawks (1983-91), Los Angeles Clippers (1991-92), New York Knicks (1992-94), San Antonio Spurs (1994-96). Josh Richardson (Mavericks), John Wall and DeMarcus Cousins (Rockets), Jaren Jackson Jr. (Grizzlies), Zion Williamson (Pelicans), Dejounte Murray, Lonnie Walker, Derrick White, Keldon Johnson, and. He was Miami's leading scorer in the playoffs and a critical reason for their run to the Finals, but he tore his plantar fascia in Game 1 and did not get his star turn on the . No Russia-born player scored more points (9,431) in his NBA career. Julius Erving referred to his vertically challenged roommate as "Sky" for obvious reasons. Pure shooters are at a premium, and for six consecutive seasons (1981-87), the points machine filled it up with the best of em. There are currently five NBA players who have exactly six NBA Championships to their name. He shot 87.5 percent at the free-throw line. For nearly two decades, Chandler was among the most consistent rebounders and interior defenders around. Rashard Lewis was one of the NBA's brightest stars early in his career, but he gave up on the Orlando Magic a couple of years after signing a huge contract. Every contender needs a rebounder and interior defender who they can count on every night. A five-time NBA Most Valuable Player and a 12-time All-Star, Bill Russell was the centerpiece of the Celtics dynasty and number one on our list of NBA players who won the most championship rings. Semih Erden was drafted by the Boston Celtics with the last pick of the 2008 NBA draft. At 64 he has great size for a guard while also being quick on his first step. Mitch Richmond Among the most consistent players in NBA history, Richmond will be remembered for an uncanny ability to average 21 points or more a season, which he did on 10 consecutive occasions . Position: Small forward and power forward, Teams: New Jersey Nets (1979-80), Portland Trail Blazers (1980-84), Denver Nuggets (1984-89), San Antonio Spurs (1989), Indiana Pacers (1989-90). He does have a championship ring that he earned with the Dallas Mavericks last season, but that does not make him a good player. Teams: Cleveland Cavaliers (1986-95), Phoenix Suns (1995-98), Dallas Mavericks (1998-99). A defensive whiz, Sidney Moncrief isn't one of the more well-known ballers on this list, but he is very deserving. Some of these players are new to the league and still fighting for playing time, some are not living up to big contracts that they signed several seasons ago and some are simply past their prime and trying to hold on to their careers as long as they possibly can. Adrian Dantley was another guy whose impact was made mostly in the 1980s. He also has a number of multimedia productions under his belt. Only Yao Ming and Amare Stoudemire averaged more Win Shares per 48 minutes in the 2002 draft class. His three point shooting can be spotty at times, but Murray has shown to be an elite two-level scorer. Top 10 interesting information on Basketball. He also was a great swiper, routinely nearing the top of the league leaders in total steals. Here is our list of 12 of the most underrated players in the NBA today. He did spend some time in the developmental league early in his career and has bounced around a bit from team to team. It could be that Hornacek's efficiency and drop-dead consistency was too boring for his own good. Teams: Cleveland Cavaliers (200204), Utah Jazz (2004-10), Chicago Bulls (2010-14), Los Angeles Lakers (2014-15). He often looks lost on the court and seems surprised when one of his shots goes in the basket. Hakeem Olajuwon is one of the most famous basketball players. During that decade, English averaged 21, 24, 25, 28, 26, 28, 30, 29, 25 and 27 points per game in each season. Since becoming the 11th overall pick in the 2002 NBA draft, Jared Jeffries has not been much more than a disappointment. Whatever it is, it makes Tim Duncan one of the more underrated players in NBA history. Big O was way ahead of his time (emphasis on "way"), and the 6'5" quarterback averaged 25.7 points, 9.5 assists and 7.5 rebounds per game over his illustrious career. Once known as one of the most exciting players in the league, this former All-Star has lost a lot in his 17th season in the league. Everybody knows who Scottie Pippen is and what defines himchampionships. George Gervin went about his business night after night, scoring point after point with no remorse and no defense. After largely being a joke earlier in his career, JaVale McGee a.k.a Tragic Bronson is now a key contributor to any NBA team he joins. Seth can do just about everything Steph can do, just not quite at the same production level. Players like Jordan or Saqil O'Neal paved the way for legendary players that came after. Yep, those Sixers, the ones who finished a pathetic 9-73 the previous season. Overall, the former Minnesota Golden Gopher averaged better than 17 and seven during his legendary 13-year career. Was it Magic Johnson or Larry Bird? When Porter didnt run the attack he averaged at least eight assists per game in five consecutive seasons the career 46-percent shooter turned scorer at the off guard spot. In 1985-86, he recorded the league's second quadruple-double when he registered 20 points, 11 rebounds, 10 assists and 10 steals. How many true NBA fans outside of Chicago know who Bob Love is? Yet somehow, the Purdue product banged/clawed/elbowed/scratched/outworked his way through 14 seasons with a half-dozen teams, most of them not very good and in smaller cities. He had a smooth and very effective jump shot that helped propel him to six All-Star Games. With the NBA season approaching fast, there are a few players who haven't gotten the credit they deserve. He played out the duration of his 11-year career with them, and during that time, he averaged 26 points, 16 rebounds and even dished out three assists per game. As Bach predicted before the 1992 draft, Grant would become a special player, albeit an undervalued one. Since this was a tough topic to research, I'd like it if I was given suggestions in case I missed one. His offense rating ranks 46th overall. The Detroit Pistons could have drafted Carmelo Anthony, Chris Bosh, Dwyane Wade, David West, Chris Kaman, Mo Williams, or Kyle Korver in the 2003 NBA Draft but they went with this . An underrated aspect of Allens game this season has been his on-ball defending. The big man has averages of 6.4 points and 7.4 boards. Like I said, he made his impact better known with his ferocious defensive skills, but he still averaged 8.9 points, 4.2 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 1.2 steals over his 13-year career, a window in which he helped win five titles. The Argentinian is one of eight players to have an NBA championship ring (four) and Olympic gold medal. So what if the rest of his game was iffy at best? Then he had a cup of coffee with ABAs Denver Rockets. He has a career average of 2.7 points and 1.9 rebounds per game. Before. 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